How to Create the Perfect Bloody Mary Bar

There's a lot more that goes into crafting the perfect version besides vodka and tomato juice.

By
Brian Bartels

Apr 25, 2017

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In my opinion, the legendary Bloody Mary is the most social cocktail on the planet, and as with any great cocktail, everyone has their own secret to making perfect one. Which is what made researching recipes across the world for my new book, The Bloody Mary, such a delight.

My new book explores a wide variety of recipes (59 in all) and methods in the hopes of sharing as many secrets as possible. Here are 11 tip for creating the perfect Bloody Mary at home.

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1Ice is integral.

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Any host worth their weight in celery salt knows this. Here's the secret to stocking the right amount of ice: Get half a pound of ice for every guest. If you have 10 guests, grab at least five pounds. Like any great party, the more the merrier.

2Whole peppercorns, both black and white, are the way to go.

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Whole peppercorns simply don’t have a substitute. Don't bother with the store-bought, pre-ground black pepper. The shelf-life of whole peppercorns is far longer, so only grind what you intend to use in the near future. I use both white and black peppercorns. Black pepper wields higher heat and zing, and white pepper is round and earthy. And both are great for digestion, skin and bone health, and breaking down fat cells.

3Lemons are a secret weapon.

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Not only are lemons an ideal ingredient for every Bloody Mary, they are indispensable when it comes to garnishing. Lemons can take the shape of wheels, half-moons, tiger tails, arrows, hearts, and so much more. And if your Bloody is turning out too spicy or sweet, a little freshly squeezed lemon juice will restore its balance.

4Fresh horseradish adds extra zing.

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Some people don’t like the grainy texture of horseradish, but freshly grated horseradish is the M&M of the garnish game. It melts in your mouth, not in your hands! And, fun fact: it’s not as spicy as pre-packaged horseradish. I highly recommend it.

5Make sure to serve Bloodys with a stirrer or straw.

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Maybe this isn’t such a secret, but since Bloody Marys have so many ingredients, many of which settle to the bottom of a glass, one needs a straw, stirrer, or celery stick to agitate the sediment. There’s a lot of flavor down there in the murky depths.

6Use an accent (like a dash of Guinness) to distinguish your version of the drink.

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Accents can be interpreted as flair, pizzazz, or what the fashion crowd calls chic. When I started making Bloody Marys, I would use the core ingredients, then add a little bit of Guinness to each one. It was small enough not to overpower, but influential enough to embrace different flavors. I would encourage you to find a little of something which brings a uniqueness to your Bloody Mary and use it. And don’t forget to invite me! (Pro tip: accents can also take the form of garnishes. Think outside of the box.)

7Make a batch ahead of time, ideally 24 hours before you want to serve it.

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If you’re hosting a party, I would suggest making a healthy quantity of Bloody Mary mix. Great news: pre-batching Bloody Marys the night before enhances the flavors. Mix all ingredients (except alcohol and ice) together and store in the refrigerator. Time provides an ideal maturation process for the ingredients. Ideally, you would mix your ingredients 24 hours in advance.

8Have towels ready. It's not called the Bloody Mary for nothing.

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When hosting guests, make sure there is adequate surface area for garnishes and product, and definitely have some towels on hand. As a cocktail, the Bloody Mary is many things, and one of those things is messy.

9Make sure you have adequate space.

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The Bloody Mary is a cocktail that requires some elbow room. I’ve always joked that assembling a proper Bloody Mary its like ding a dance—grabbing garnishes, scooping ice, pouring the liquids, squeezing the citrus, dashing the seasoning. In the middle you should take a break and sip a pilsner beer while smiling with friends, then go back to shaking or rolling the contents into a finely balanced mix. Disco’s not dead; it’s drinking a Bloody Mary somewhere!

10There are so many ways to make a Bloody Mary, but here's one of my favorites.

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